WK News - Issue 13 (2) - Flipbook - Page 5
ISSUE NO.13 SUMMER 2024 | WEST KENT NEWS 5
THE
DEPUTY
PROVINCIAL
GRAND MASTER:
IAN GALLEHAWK
After the build up to our Provincial
Meeting, it is now time to look back
on an excellent meeting and reflect
on how we are doing as a Province.
This time last year, the green
shoots were beginning to show as
we worked to imbed the Members’
Pathway ever more deeply into the
Province and meet the 1% growth
envisaged in the UGLE strategy.
are welcomed and know that they
are welcomed. As regards our
established members, let’s make
sure that Lodges are run as
democracies, that everyone has a
voice and that every member feels
valued. If we truly interact as a
brotherhood, our members will be
far more inclined to stay with us.
Turning our membership challenge
around was never going to be easy
and a great deal of hard work has
been carried out by many members
across the Province, members who
don’t seek acknowledgement but
simply get on with the task of
quietly
stabilising
their
Lodge
numbers
and
embracing
opportunities for growth.
It is not an exaggeration to say that
we stand together at a pivotal
moment in the history of the
Province and the Craft. This is the
moment when our collective hard
work has the potential to drive
forward the fortunes of the Province
and the Order. I hope that every
member of the Province will
continue to play his part in seeing
that we finish the year with the
Province having grown in numbers.
As I type this article, we have over
40 losses less than we had for the
same period in 2023. This is truly
encouraging.As ever, our greatest
number of losses comes from
resignations.
A critical aspect of achieving this
milestone is that we continue to
look after our existing members. It
is far easier to retain a member
than attract a new one, although
both are critical to our growth.
Every loss through resignation is a
source of sadness. When we talk to
members, who have resigned, the
overwhelming reason is that they
are not receiving an appropriate
masonic experience within their
Lodges. The way to avoid this is
contained within the Members’
Pathway.
As
regards
newer
members, let’s make sure that they
Success is not just having some
work to do, success is engaging
with our members and achieving
sustainable growth. It is mission
critical.
I reiterate the observation I made in
the last edition. I am an optimist.
Our Provincial Meeting reinforced
my natural optimism. I shook hands
with a succession of members, who
were
clearly
proud
of
their
provincial
promotion
or
appointment.
The support for the Province is
tangible. We now have a real
opportunity to build on this by
working together to achieve the
best that we can for our wonderful
Province.
As the traditional summer break
now beckons, let us ensure that we
do not lose touch for a quarter of
the year. We have phones and a
wide
range
of
social
media
opportunities. Stay in touch with
each other, Masonry is about more
than 4 meetings per year. Make
sure that when we kick off again in
September, we are meeting with
well-established friends, with whom
we have maintained the close
contact that would be expected of a
true brotherhood.